The Russians have left Chechnya, or at least that’s how the headlines read. The truth, of course, is that the troubled republic that has endured violence and conflict since 1994 remains under the control of its Moscow-aligned President, Ramzan Kadyrov. So, while Russia’s National Anti-terrorist Committee is claiming that the removal of Russian forces symbolizes the “creation of conditions to further normalize the situation”, the reality is that militias under Kadyrov’s control, which have been accused of widespread abuses by a variety of human rights groups, including allegations of the murder of political opponents, kidnapping, and torture, remain in place.
The Kremlin is claiming that Russian operations in Chechnya have now succeeded in neutralizing armed groups leading to the detention and trial of militant leaders. But what should not be overlooked is that Kadyrov’s mandate most likely remains unaltered, and is one that is wholly justified by global anti-terror precedents set over the last eight years. While it is easy to condemn the actions of Kadyrov’s forces, the fact remains that the United States has set a global precedent that has, in no small way, helped justify disregard for international law and the Geneva Conventions as inconveniences to the ‘new reality’ of combating global terrorism. That is the legacy of the Bush Administration, and one that will be capitalized on for years to come by a variety of nations looking to solve their own problems using the umbrella of ‘anti-terrorism’ operations as cover.
Despite today’s announcement, pockets of militant resistance continue to exist in the bordering regions of Dagestan and Ingushetia.